Town and Bolton are reported to be showing interest in Rangers right-back Lee Hodson, who is currently on loan with St Mirren.
According to The Sun, the Blues and Trotters are both eyeing a move for the 27-year-old (pictured above, centre), who can also play at left-back and in midfield.
Hodson is out of contract at the end of the season and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is said to be willing to accept offers for the Borehamwood-born defender.
The 24-times-capped Northern Ireland international was a youth player with hometown club Boreham Wood and Watford where he broke into first-team football in 2009.
Having spent time on loan at Brentford, Hodson moved on to the MK Dons for a three-year spell in 2013.
In the second half of the 2015/16 season he joined Kilmarnock on loan and the following summer moved to Rangers.
However, having made only 23 starts and four sub appearances for the Ibrox club, the 5ft 11in tall full-back was sent on loan to St Mirren in August. He has started all 18 Scottish Premiership games for the Paisley-based side.
Manager Paul Lambert has previously said that a right-back is one of his January targets and yesterday confirmed that he is still considering adding to his six transfer window recruits.
That Hodson would be available on a permanent basis rather than on loan - Town already have five loan players, the maximum permitted in a matchday squad - may well make him of greater interest to the Blues boss.